Sanderling
Sanderling
Breeding adult
- Small, stocky shorebird
- Usually seen running along edge of surf on beaches
- Breeding adult shows mottled rufous upperparts and on head/neck
- Bright white below
- © Christopher L. Wood, NJ, May 2008
Sanderling
Nonbreeding adult
- Small, stocky shorebird, larger than "peeps"
- Short black bill
- Nonbreeding adult shows pale, slaty gray above
- Bright, snowy white below
- © Christopher L. Wood, December 2004
Sanderling
Juvenile
- Juvenile spangled black and white above with buffy wash on face and collar
- Small, stocky shorebird
- Usually seen on beaches
- Short black bill
- © Christopher L. Wood, September 2008
Sanderling
Nonbreeding adult
- Small, stocky shorebird
- Bold white wing-stripe distinctive in flight
- Long, pointed wings
- Pale gray above, bright white below
- © Mike Forsman, CA, Oxnard, November 2010
Sanderling
Breeding adult
- Small, stocky shorebird
- Usually seen running along surf on beaches
- Breeding adult spangled with rufous above, and on head and neck
- Larger than "peeps"
- © Reynir Skarsgard, Iceland, June 2011
Sanderling
Juveniles
- Small, stocky shorebird
- Distinctive in flight with bold white stripe on long, pointed wings
- Spangled black and white above, bright white below
- © Laura Meyers, NY, Nickerson Beach, September 2011
Similar Species
Adult
- Smaller and daintier than Sanderling
- Small, thin bill
- Darker and browner above than Sanderling
- Streaking on sides of breast
- © Raymond Lee, Elk Island National Park, AB, May 2011
Nonbreeding adult
- Larger and stockier than Sanderling
- Longer, decurved bill
- Darker gray above with gray smudges/streaks on sides of neck and breast
- White eyebrow
- © Jim paris, Vancouver Island, BC, February 2011
Nonbreeding adult
- Smaller and more slender and elongated than Sanderling
- Longer bill
- Thin white eyebrow
- Thin, dark streaks on flanks
- © Will Sweet, Ipswich, MA, September 2011